News-Info-Alerts

Re: WW II MIA's Long Lost Love Sought

From: POW-MIA InterNetwork

Date: September 03, 2003

"Search for pilot's Australian fiancee
From correspondents in London

THE Royal Air Force is hoping that somewhere in Australia there is an elderly woman who might like to come to a funeral in Belgium on Friday.

It's a long story.

Last year, Belgian builders dug up the body of a World War II Spitfire pilot, Sergeant John Smart Carmichael. They also found his rosary beads, a four-leaf clover ... and a receipt for an engagement ring.

"It's a love story," RAF spokesman Michael Mulford said. "A tragic story, that was repeated, I have to say, probably many, many times during the war.

"Even though we don't know this girl's name, we would just love her to at least have the knowledge that he has been found. She might want to send a flower to his grave in Belgium."

Carmichael's remains will be buried on Friday - 60 years to the day since he was shot down by a German fighter.

His fiancee, a young nurse from London, kept in touch with his family, but they lost contact when she migrated to Australia after the war.

About all that is known about her now is that she worked at London Hospital, and became engaged to the 21-year-old redhead from Scotland shortly before he went missing in action on September 5, 1943. She would now be in her late 70s or early 80s.

Carmichael was the second son of Carrie (Caroline) and Sandy (Alexander) Carmichael, of St Ninian's in Stirlingshire, and was born in Dundee.

The family was touched by tragedy early. His elder brother, Alexander, died of leukaemia when he was five years old.

He worked at Glaxo Chemicals after finishing school, and enlisted in August 1941.

After training as a pilot, he joined No 129 Squadron, based at RAF Hornchurch in Essex, on July 20, 1943.

Although he was christened John, his family called him Ian and his RAF mates, led by their Australian colleagues, dubbed him Blue because of his red hair.

"That was what we called him because of his colouring," Royal Australian Air Force flight sergeant John Byrne, 81, said from Port Macquarie, on NSW's north coast, this week.

Byrne spent two years on attachment to the RAF, and lived in the same mess as Carmichael.

"We served together for three to four months, and he was a good pilot," Byrne said.

"He was a very quiet, gentle type of Scottish lad - a nice, ordinary, everyday Scottish boy.

"Because of the attrition rate, you tended not to get too close to your flying colleagues. We were all little more than boys, and it was difficult enough worrying about yourself, let alone other people."

Carmichael's cousin Mary "Bunty" McQuade, now in her 80s, told RAF investigators that the young pilot had had a fiancee when he disappeared, but she could not remember her name.

"We know that this girl kept in touch with his parents, who are now both dead, but his family can't remember her name," Mulford said.

"She used to write to his mum in Scotland after the war. Then she wrote one day to say that she was getting married to someone else, and they were emigrating to Australia."

Mulford's hope is that the story of her first love has been passed down to her family, and that someone will recognise the details.

Three years ago, he was able to track down in New Zealand the sweetheart of a bomber crew member shot down over Iceland.

She sent 12 red roses to his grave, and planted a Peace rose bush in her garden.

"These things can happen," Mulford said.

Carmichael will be laid to rest with full military honours in the Coxyde Military Cemetery near Ieper at 11am on Friday in front of his cousins Bunty and Winifred, and representatives of the British military and the War Graves Commission.

AAP

©2003 Nationwide News | Produced by The Daily Telegraph and News Interactive"

AND

"HONOUR FOR HERO AIRMAN

A WORLD War II Spitfire pilot will be laid to rest tomorrow - 60 years to the day after his death.

Sergeant John Smart Carmichael, known as Ian to his family, was reported missing in action after a mission over Belgium in 1943.

For 59 years, his whereabouts remained a mystery until his aircraft was discovered last year.

Family members will be at Koksijd Military Cemetery in Belgium.

Ian's cousin Bunty McQuade, 82, from Kilmarnock, said: ``There will be sadness tinged with relief when Ian is finally laid to rest.

``Ian was a hero and paid the ultimate price in defending his country.

``It is fitting that even after all these years he will receive a hero's burial.''

A piper will play a lament and there will be a flypast by two Tornado F3 jets."